Why We Love Cornwall

Why We Love Cornwall - its just so beautiful.


I took these pictures at 9.00am today. I was walking to the Post Office to collect a parcel (yet another book), it was such a gorgeous morning and the tide was in, the Truro river looked wonderful. I could not resist taking a few pictures. I usually keep a camera in my pocket these days.


So here are a few of the pics:

I will be spending all day tomorrow in the building on the left. Working on my ECDL (European Computer Driving License) course. 

 I don't want to spoil the illusion but, this is not a sign of Autumn setting in it's a diseased Horse Chestnut Tree

This picture speaks for itself.

I love it.

Coffee

As you know, if you know us, Davina works for:

She, and they, take the making of good coffee very seriously.

If you visit a Costa coffee shop you will see a great variety of coffee's on offer. Here is an example of the coffee they provide:

I think this is an Apple Latte

(I don't think this one is on the menu)

Davina manages a Costa Shop, and as manager, is always a good example to her staff:

They look up to her and appreciate her firm but fair Management style:

As she takes coffee so seriously, we decided to buy our own espresso maker, so that she could practice at home and also teach me how to make myself a good coffee.

So we looked on line, and decided to buy a Gaggia. We bought it direct from Italy. It is a very good machine. Here is ours:

Before she went to work today Davina made me a lovely cup of coffee and showed me how to use this magnificent machine.

So when she had gone to work I thought I would try for myself.

I ended up with an: Capalattespressfrappeo!!! And it was tepid.

So I'll need another lesson tomorrow.

This Time Last Year in Paris

Tomorrow is Davina's Birthday. It reminds me that last year we went here to celebrate her birthday:

On the first night we went out to find a place to eat, so that we could experience what it is like to eat outside, enjoy steak, snails, and wine in a Parisian restaurant:

So here's me living the dream:

...and here's Davina sharing a snail or two with Leonard Cohen:

...and here we are trying to find our lookalikes in the Louvre:

We were only there for three days, but we walked around a lot and saw many of the famous sights:

The Pompidou Centre:

Montmartre:

Notre Dame:

and many other places.

We both had a wonderful time, remember with excitement, and would love to go again.

We won't be in Paris for Davina's Birthday. But we are in the beautiful city of Truro.

Happy Birthday Darling.

The Imagined Village

Last Friday we went to see The Imagined Village (see previous post for a video of them). They were on at The St Ives September Festival:

It was worth every penny of the twenty five quid, I was entranced from beginning to end. 

During their set, one member of the band (Chris Wood), said 'this is the best band in the world'. He wasn't boasting, but just expressing his feelings at being part of what is such an innovative and exciting project.

My picture doesn't do them justice, but the love of what they were doing shone through every member of the band:

We bought a copy of their CD which is called 'Empire and Love', and we met most of the band as they were signing the CD. The only sad bit was that we did not see Sheema and Johnny afterwards so we didn't get their signatures.

But we played the CD on the way back home. I put it on iTunes and my iPod and have been listening to it ever since.

There are quite a few videos of them on Youtube, its worth having a look.

The Imagined Village - Cold Hailey Rainy Night (Cambridge Folk '08)

Truro Carnival

Last weekend was a busy one in Truro. There was Cornish Wrestling on Saturday Morning (see previous blog). In the evening there was the Carnival Parade. Unfortunately Davina had to work, but she managed to see some of it from her shop. Some friends came over on the bus from Helston, to join me, and we went and enjoyed the parade together.


Loads of people turned out for the parade:

This is our Carnival Queen:

My favourite was Cruella DeVille's dog:

Then there was the Way of the Foot and the Fist:

A dancing school that didn't appear to dance:

A beauty queen who looks as though she had just passed wind:

The Tart of Truro:

The best we can offer!!!

And two blokes rowing (Hawaii Trur-o):

There were a lot of floats and individuals who put in a lot of effort. The atmosphere was fantastic and we had a great time.

Finally, I took this picture:

Because I loved the shape of her B,b,b, Feathers!!!

Cornish Wrestling 2

I don't know what I did but I never got to add on the web address, and I can't seem to get back in to edit the previous posting. So if you want to know more about Cornish Wrestling go to the site:


www.cornishwrestling.co.uk

Cornish Wrestling

I saw an article in the local paper the other day which there would be Cornish Wrestling on the Cathedral Green on Saturday 11th September 2010. I couldn't believe they were actually going to have Wrestling in the grounds of the Cathedral, so I thought I would go and check it out. 


When I got there this is what I saw:

I took a seat and waited for the fun to begin.

A circle had been marked out on the lawn with sand. Which was the ring. I knew nothing about Cornish wrestling, in fact I had never heard of it.

After a while three older men walked into the ring carrying sticks, I thought it was going to be a three man sword fight, but I was wrong. They turned out to be the 'Sticklers' who referee the match.

Into the ring stepped a little girl who looked about 6, she was wearing shorts and a canvas jacket. She was followed in by a boy who looked twice her size, who was dressed in the same manner. The MC told them to shake hands and begin to fight. They shook hands, then grabbed each other by the jacket. I thought the little girl would lose easily but she put up a good fight. At the end of the two minute bout the Stickler agreed that the boy had won.

After that match some older boys stepped in for a three minute bout:

After a few more matches of differing lengths and age groups. It was the turn of the under 16's.

Again a boy and girl entered the ring:

The girl put up a good fight, but, just after I took this picture, she was thrown flat on her back and lost the match.

The last I saw of her was when she stormed out of the Green in tears and say the she was having a *&%$@$£ C**p day. She wasn't happy. I guess she disagreed with the Sticklers decision.

I left soon after that still confused. I had found it interesting but didn't understand what was going on. So I came home and looked it up on the internet. This is a bit of an article I found on Wikipedia:

‘Cornish wrestling is a form of wrestling which has been established in Cornwall for several centuries. The referee is known as a 'stickler', and it is claimed that the popular meaning of the word as a 'pedant' originates from this usage. It is colloquially known as "wrasslin" in the Cornish dialect.

The wrestlers in the Cornish style both wear tough jackets enabling them to gain better grip on their opponent. All holds are taken upon the other wrestler's jacket, grabbing of the wrists or fingers is forbidden as well as any holding below the waist. Although all holds are to be taken upon the jacket the flat of the hand is allowed to be used to push or deflect an opponent.

The objective of Cornish wrestling is to throw your opponent and make him land as flat as possible on his back. Three sticklers (referees) watch and control each bout whilst also recording down the score of points achieved in play. Four pins are located on the back of a wrestler, two at the back of each shoulder and two either side just above the buttocks. If a wrestler manages to throw his opponent flat onto his back, simultaneously scoring with all 4 pins they score four points in that single throw and this is called a "Back" to which the bout is then finished and the throwing wrestler is the winner. The sticklers will each raise their sticks when they perceive a Back has been achieved. If two sticklers raise their sticks but one does not a back is still awarded.’

So there you go. If you want to find out more you can look at the full Wikipedia article or go to:

Sambucus nigra

There is a plant called Sambucus nigra or, as I understand it Black Lace Elder.


This is what one website says about it:


'Looking to add some wow to your garden? Black Lace Elder is unlike any other plant you can put in your garden.'

It is, without a doubt, a beautiful plant. Here is a picture of one which we saw when we visited the Secret Garden in Sandwich (see previous blog):

As we like plants with dark foliage we bought one. That was three years ago.

We have tended it and loved it and watched it develop over the years.

So here it is:

Doesn't quite look as it should, does it?

Maybe the Cornish weather will be kind to it and next year it may look more like the one above.

Talking about things that don't look as the should, I now have a different story.

I don't know whether you have ever been in to Costa (or one of those other coffee shops) and been tempted to have a Biscotti with your Latte.

Biscotti simply means: baked twice.

It is a hard biscuit usually with almonds in it. But it transforms into something gorgeous when you dunk it in your cappuccino. 

Well, since I now have all this spare time, I promised Davina I would make her some. So this week I gave it a try. Its simpler than I thought it would be (there are plenty of recipes on line).

So what happened? well this is what they should look like:

and this is how mine turned out:

Not bad eh?

Whistlestop

Last weekend we decided to make a trip back east. It was Davina's Mums Birthday and we wanted to surprise her with a visit.


I wasn't looking forward to the long drive, so we broke the journey by staying in Premier Inn Andover overnight on friday. On Saturday morning we continued on to Ramsgate. We arrived in time for brunch. It was good to see Davina's family. I hadn't seen them since the beginning of this year.


We enjoyed brunch and then went for an outing at the Sandwich Secret Garden:

Davina in the Garden

There were some beautiful flowers:

and some interesting works of art:

The day was enjoyed by the whole family:

In the evening we had a takeaway from Surin (Thai restaurant in Ramsgate) which was excellent. Followed by a good nights sleep at Davina's mums house.

Following morning we drove to see Tom & Kim and their family in their new flat in Esher:

We then drove to see Louise & Alan and family in Cranford (sorry no picture).

After that we drove back home to Truro and arrived by about 8.15pm.

So that was our whistle-stop tour.

It was a real joy to see our families, and we had a lovely time with them all.